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Thursday, May 26, 2011, St. Philip Neri
Acts 15:7-21, Psalm 96:1-3, 10, John 15:9-11
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/052611.shtml
JESUS, JOY, AND US
"All this I tell you that My joy may be yours and your joy may be complete." -John 15:11
Jesus offers us His complete joy. The question is: do we really want Jesus' type of joy, that is, "complete joy," or would we rather have a cheap, temporary joy? To answer that question, let's look at what constitutes Jesus' joy:
* Jesus finds "joy" when we faithfully obey Him, bear lasting fruit, and receive greater responsibilities (Mt 25:21, 23). Do we find joy in being assigned more work for Jesus?
* He has great joy when a sinner is rescued (Lk 15:5, 32), despite risking His own safety. Do we find joy in risking harm to lead lost people to repentance and conversion?
* He finds great joy and gladness amid persecution (Mt 5:12; Lk 6:23). Does persecution for Jesus' sake bring us joy?
Jesus wants to share His joy completely with us (Jn 17:13). Do we still want Jesus' joy if it involves ever-increasing labor, an exhausting, dangerous quest for repentance and conversion, and exposure to escalating persecution?
Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). The Spirit is given to those who obey God (Acts 5:32). Joy and unselfishness are linked (Phil 4:4-5). To have Jesus' complete joy, we must die to self (Lk 9:23), obey Jesus, and want what He wants, not what we want. Then we will rejoice with His joy that no one can take from us (Jn 16:22). We will share His joy completely (Jn 17:13). Our names will be written in heaven, and that will bring Jesus great joy (Lk 10:20-21).
Prayer: Jesus, my Joy (Ps 43:4), I abandon my life unto You.
Promise: "We are saved by the favor of the Lord Jesus." -Acts 15:11
Praise: St. Philip rejoiced in the Lord always by practicing eighty years of penance and service.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from April 1, 2011 through May 31, 2011
?Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, XXX 11, 2011
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
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